In the hour between 8.05pm and 9.05pm when Arsenal’s Europa League match with Koln was delayed, there were a few moments when it looked this could be a very long night - and that is not meant in a light sense.

After chaotic scenes outside Emirates Stadium delayed Arsenal's Europa League opener against Cologne by an hour, Arsene Wenger's side recorded a morale boosting 3-1 win in front of a crowd swelled by vast numbers of travelling German fans.

As Arsenal and Arsene Wenger prepare to play their first game in the Europa League for 17 years - or, as it was called in 2000, the Uefa Cup - there is a curious little story from that night in Copenhagen that actually feels all the more relevant today.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hinted that he turned down an approach to succeed Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager, amid suggestions he met with Old Trafford chiefs over the role 15 years ago.

It will take more than victory over an abject Bournemouth team to blow the storm clouds away but for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, this was a start. Inspired by Danny Welbeck, they took what was a must-win game by the scruff of the neck and never looked like suffering further early-season damage.